Method and apparatus for clustering search terms

Abstract

A method and apparatus for clustering search terms are provided by the present invention. The method includes: A, establishing a candidate search term set, wherein the candidate search term set comprises a first search term provided by a user, and a second search term related to the first search term; B, performing a clustering operation on the first search term and the second search term related to the first search term in the candidate search term set according to text characteristic and/or semantic characteristic of search term. The accuracy and relevance of search term clustering can be improved by use of the method.

1 . A method for clustering search terms, comprising:
 establishing a candidate search term set, wherein the candidate search term set comprises a first search term provided by a user, and a second search term related to the first search term;   calculating a similarity value between the first search term and the second search term related to the first search term according to text characteristic and/or semantic characteristic of the first search term, clustering the first search term and the second search term together when the similarity value between the first search term and the second search term is greater than or equal to a first preset threshold;   selecting second search terms from all of second search terms related to the first search term or from all of seconds search terms clustered with the first search term, wherein a similarity value between the first search term and each of the second search terms is greater than or equal to a second preset threshold respectively; and   calculating a similarity value between any two selected second search terms, and clustering the two second search terms together when the calculated similarity value is greater than or equal to the first preset threshold.   performing a clustering operation on the first search term and the second search term related to the first search term in the candidate search term set according to text characteristic and/or semantic characteristic of search term.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , when the user adds the first search term, further comprising:
 determining one or more second search terms related to the first search term, adding the first search term to be added and a second search term to the candidate search term set, wherein the second search term is within the determined one or more second search terms and differs from any search term in the candidate search term set;   performing the clustering operation on the newly-added first search term and the determined one or more second search terms related to the first search term in the candidate search term set in accordance with the text characteristic and/or the semantic characteristic of search term.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the second search term related to the first search term in the candidate search term set, adding both the first search term and the determined second search term related to the first search term to a new candidate search term set, performing the clustering operation for the first search term and the determined second search term related to the first search term according to the text characteristic and/or the semantic characteristic of search term when a configured total update time arrives.   
     
     
         4 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second search term related to the first search term comprises:
 a search term matching the first search term, and/or a search term in a search result when the first search term is taken as a keyword to obtain a search result through search.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for clustering search terms, comprising:
 an establishing unit, to establish a candidate search term set, wherein the candidate search term set comprises a first search term provided by a user, and a second search term related to the first search term; and   a clustering unit, to perform a clustering operation on the first search term and the second search term related to the first search term in the candidate search term set according to text characteristic and/or semantic characteristic of search term.   wherein the clustering unit performs the clustering operation through sub-units as follows:   a calculating sub-unit, to calculate a similarity value between the first search term and the second search term related to the first search term in accordance with the text characteristic and/or the semantic characteristic of the first search term;   a clustering sub-unit, to cluster the first search term together with the second search term, when the similarity value between the first search term and the second search term is greater than or equal to a first preset threshold; and   the clustering sub-unit is further to select third search terms from all of second search terms related to the first search term or from all of seconds search terms clustered with the first search term, wherein a similarity value between the first search term and each of the third search terms is greater than or equal to a second preset threshold respectively, calculate a similarity value between any two selected third search terms, and cluster the two third search terms together when the calculated similarity value is greater than or equal to the first preset threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an adding unit, to determine one or more second search terms related to the first search term, add the first search term to be added and a second search term to the candidate search term set when a user adds the first search term, wherein the second search term is within the determined one or more second search terms and differs from any search term in the candidate search term set;   the clustering unit is further to perform the clustering operation on the newly-added first search term and the one or more second search terms related to the first search term in the candidate search term set according to the text characteristic and/or the semantic characteristic of search term.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an updating unit, to determine the second search term related to the first search term in the candidate search term set, add both the first search term and the determined second search term related to the first search term to a new candidate search term set when a configured total update time arrives;   the clustering unit is further to perform the clustering operation for the first search term and the second search term related to the first search term in the new candidate search term set in accordance with the text characteristic and/or the semantic characteristic of search term.   
     
     
         10 .- 11 . (canceled)